Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Liberia
Relationship assessment
Development cooperation and peacekeeping support, tempered by Liberia’s past shifts in diplomatic recognition
People's Republic of China toward Liberia
+35China has provided development assistance to Liberia and contributed peacekeepers to the UN mission there during Liberia’s post-conflict period. These actions constitute practical support beyond diplomatic relations, although the breadth and continuity of bilateral projects are unclear.
Liberia toward People's Republic of China
+20Liberia has maintained diplomatic relations with China since 2003 and adheres to a one-China policy, after earlier changes in recognition between China and Taiwan. This policy alignment is a concrete feature of Liberia’s approach, though the extent of other bilateral cooperation is unclear.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship combines Chinese development and post-conflict support with Liberia’s diplomatic alignment with China. Repeated changes in Liberia’s recognition policy have interrupted that relationship, so its history is less consistent than the cooperative activity of recent decades suggests.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and Liberia have maintained substantive cooperation in development and post-conflict support, including Chinese assistance and participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia. Liberia has maintained diplomatic relations with China since 2003 and follows a one-China policy. Their relations have also been disrupted by repeated Liberian switches in diplomatic recognition between China and Taiwan, making the partnership less consistent over time.
Areas of tension
- Liberia’s past switches in diplomatic recognition between China and Taiwan disrupted bilateral relations.
Key developments
Liberia established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Liberia shifted recognition from China to Taiwan, interrupting diplomatic relations with China.
Liberia restored diplomatic relations with China and adopted a one-China policy.
China contributed peacekeepers to the UN mission in Liberia during the country's post-conflict period.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of current bilateral development and economic cooperation are unclear.
- The effects of Liberia's past changes in diplomatic recognition on the durability of present cooperation are uncertain.